ERC amasses $18m fund for Rohingyas

Emirates Red Crescent Authority has accumulated nearly US$ 18 million fund in a weeklong campaign to support livelihood of the Rohingya people in Bangladesh.

The nationwide campaign carried out last week in May amassed the fund from various platforms including social media and thousands of individuals and charities, the voluntary human rights organisation said today.

The ERC launched the campaign under the directives of its President Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, reports Gulf News.

The campaign was supported by all the UAE leaders, with Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union (GWU), President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation (FDF), and Honorary Chairperson of the Emirates Red Crescent, leading the way with a donation of Dh10 million.

Meanwhile, Shaikh Tahnoun Bin Mohammad Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, has donated Dh5 million to the fund, and his wife Shaikha Shamsa Bint Zayed Al Nahyan donated Dh2 million for the cause.

Nearly 750,000 Rohingya fled in the face of atrocities in Myanmar since August 2017, joining the 300,000 others, who had fled previous waves of violence to Bangladesh.

The new campaign will bring all the units together in a single team to better coordinate the relief efforts, ERC said.

So far, ERC has also spent Dh5.5 million to help Rohingya refugees, with more than 700,000 people receiving help such as temporary housing, food, health care etc.